Doctor Who Drabble: Clinging To Hope

[bk_forever]

Title: Clinging To Hope

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Martha Jones; mentions the Master and the Tenth Doctor.

Rating: G

Written For: Challenge 076: Lost Causes at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Martha has to believe that the Doctor can save the earth.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.

Martha thinks that to anyone but the Doctor, the situation on earth would appear hopeless. The Master is in control, destroying cities and people on a casual whim. His emissaries, the Toclafane, carry out his orders gleefully; they seem to delight in murder as much as the insane Time Lord himself.

Even though she doesn’t fully understand the Doctor’s plan, Martha does her part willingly. Walking the earth, spreading the word, is exhausting, terrifying, and lonely, but she clings to hope because it’s all she has.

As long as the Doctor lives, there’s no such thing as a lost cause.

The End

Comments

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Tho the doctor fixed things in the end it was Marthas bravery that won in the end.

great drabble.

[bk_forever]

He couldn't have done any of it if Martha hadn't been brave enough to walk the earth.

Thank you.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Martha should have gotten a metal for that!

But NO!, because no one is suppose to remember what had happened!

Only those that were "in the eye of the storm".

[bk_forever]

I know! Her bravery and determination will never be officially recognised, only a few people will ever know what an amazing woman she is. But perhaps she prefers it that way. I think she'd rather put that behind her and move on with her life, although she'll never forget.

Thank you.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Martha: My name is not important...

She focused on what needed to be done. She was selfless.

Most good deeds go unaccredited I think. Who knows?

[bk_forever]

The people who brag about their good deeds to everyone do good only to be praised. Those who, like Martha, don't want to be lauded for what they do are the truly admirable people, doing good with no expectation or desire for reward. We'll never know who they are, but we can be grateful that such selfless people exist =)

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It is not really a good deed unless if it is done discretely. However some people maybe given recognition as an example of human kindness.

I always think of the "FRIENDS" episode where Joey and Phoebe argue over the fact whether a self-less good deed exists or not.

People may donate stuff to the homeless but does that actually help people get off the streets?

I always drag the conversation onto serious stuff.

[bk_forever]

It's a fair point though. I'd love to set up some kind of halfway house to help the homeless get off the streets, but that kind of thing takes money I haven't got.

There probably isn't any such thing as a completely selfless act, because we do things when we see something that makes up feel sad or worried or angry, whatever. We do what we can to fix them and just the act makes us feel better, so we can't say it was selfless. But does that really matter? Because doing things to help others is what matters, whatever the motive.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

There was a story on the news where the Salvos recommend donating useful items to them so that they can distribute it properly to the less fortunate.

They have to deal with cleaning up after homeless people who choose to leave stuff behind like bags which could be a security risk.

I see Police tell homeless people to move on and I think to what?. That is an issue also.

There is also pressure for people to donate money when they don't usually go out of their way to do so.

I put aside money for charity but I don't want to be given the guilt trip if I don't just give money right then and there by a random charity coin collector. I don't like when they shake the coin at me.

[bk_forever]

The trouble is, you donate to a charity one time when you can spare the money, then they hound you for more ever after. Yes, charities are important, but trying to guilt people into giving just causes resentment.

The charity shops are better. People volunteer as staff, and we take things we don't want into the shops and buy things other people didn't want, so that's helping charities as well as recycling.

Some councils over here wanted to fine people for sleeping rough, as if they had a choice in the matter, but online petitions stopped that dead. Councils should help those who don't have a roof over their heads, not punishing them for their misfortune - they have enough empty buildings going to waste, open some f those up so those in need at least have shelter at night.

We have a local place called Hope House where the homeless can get a hot meal, clothes and toiletries, and there's a food bank. I donated all mum's clothes there when she passed away because I know she would have approved of helping others. My doctor volunteers there, giving medical advice and treatment at a drop-in clinic every week. It's a good place.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

That's where social/people skills come in. Sometimes they disturb people who are eating their lunch.

Charity is about donating your time or whatever you can spare.

Sometimes councils or businesses can get it wrong. There was an automatic water system that was placed in front of a company building to stop homeless people sleeping there.

I think it is up to everybody in the community to figure out a constructive solution to issues in society like homelessness.

[bk_forever]

A water system? That's so cruel. Bad enough to be homeless and at the whim of the weather, but to be driven off with water on top of everything else they have to deal with... That's a kind of discrimination.

The trouble is that everyone just passes the buck, nobody will just accept that action needs to be taken and organise people into doing something about it. =(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

They should have obviously dealt with the situation appropriately. It was selfish. Thats probably why these kinds of problems are on-going.:(

[bk_forever]

Yeah, it's just tat people react without giving any consideration to the people they're targeting. Maybe one day...

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

They have to stop seeing homeless people as a nuisance to do that. It could easily be them on the street instead.

Homeless people rarely choose to live that lifestyle. They may suffer from mental illnesses.

[bk_forever]

Very true. there needs to be more awareness of the problem, and more support for those who find themselves in that unenviable position. More and better shelters. There's so much that could be done if the world's governments would only get together and hash out a workable plan of action.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

The message is not getting through to some people. The government also needs to make sure people are willing to listen and help. I know they struggle to proritise these kinds of community problems.

Some homeless people refuse housing because they don't like the conditions there. They don't feel safe because of drug dealing etc.

What does that mean when they prefer to have no roof over their head as their best option?

[bk_forever]

It's horrible. There need to be shelters that are drugs free, so that people can feel safe and be off the streets.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

There is also the waiting list for housing. That can take years!. I don't know why.

[bk_forever]

There's so much derelict housing around that should be renovated to provide housing, but it costs money to do the necessary work.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I know. I live in public housing and i've lost track of how many times an inspector wants to check my home for anything that needs fixing.

Seldom follow-ups. I have to repeat myself even though they should have it on record already.

I guess I should be thankful that I do have a home. I just wish I was a trady myself so I could at least deal with some fix-its. It took two years for someone to fix the leaky tap in my bath tub.:(

[bk_forever]

That's a hellishly long wait!

I don't know plumbing, but I'm lucky to have a great plumber I can call. Because I'm still living in the house my parents bought before I was born, it's a private home so I'm responsible for getting my own repairs done. At least that means if something needs fixing I can get it fixed right away instead of having to wait.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I know. You would think they would get it fixed straight away instead of putting the water bill up!.

The pressure of the water got bigger as the time went on so my brother tried to preserve the water with a large bucket/bin container.

It was wierd when the leaked was finally fixed because we didn't have to put up with the sound from the water anymore. We were so use to it being loud.

My mum use to ask a friend from her old work place to come fix things when we were living at our previous house because he was a trady.

[bk_forever]

It's handy to know tradespeople =)

That's the trouble when someone else is responsible for keeping up the repairs on your home. They just leave you hanging for ages before they finally get around to fixing the problem, by which time it's usually a far bigger and more time consuming job than it would have been if they'd just fixed it right away =(

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

They say you won't get rich as a trady but it is a very useful skill.